SpeciesPhilippine leaf insect
Philippine leaf insect
Phyllium philippinicum
The most perfect camouflage in the animal kingdom: flat, green, with imitated leaf veins and feeding marks. More delicate than stick insects and dependent on steady humidity.
- Group
- Phasmid
- Level
- Intermediate
- Origin
- Southeast Asia
Where the species comes from
- World region
- Southeast Asia
- Countries
- Philippines
- Habitat
- Humid forests
The app does not yet hold an origin entry for this species. The distribution given here comes from the specialist literature.
The natural habitat is the yardstick for how you furnish an enclosure. Knowing where an animal comes from is knowing why it needs heat zones, hides and a particular humidity.
Husbandry at a glance
The same details appear in the animal’s profile inside the app.
- Enclosure
- 30 × 30 × 50 cm for two to three animals, well ventilated.
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C.
- Humidity
- 70–80 %, mist daily. Too dry and the moult fails, too wet and mould appears.
- Lighting
- No special lighting needed.
- Substrate
- Coco humus.
- Furnishings
- Fresh browse in a vase, a mesh lid.
- Water
- Droplets on the foliage.
- Feeding
- Bramble, raspberry or oak browse, fresh all year.
- Behaviour
- Nocturnal, moves with a rocking motion like a leaf in the wind.
- Handling
- Very fragile, better not.
- Cohabitation
- Groups are unproblematic.
- Health
- Shedding problems are the leading cause of loss.
- Seasonal cycle
- No rest period.
- Safety
- No permit required.
Legal position in Switzerland
No permit foreseen
No permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
No certificate of competence foreseen
No proof of competence required. It is only demanded for the animals named in Art. 89 of the Ordinance
No CITES listing
Not listed in the CITES appendices: Import and transfer require no species-protection papers. Keep the proof of purchase nonetheless
Minimum enclosure dimensions
The Animal Welfare Ordinance does not apply to these animals: under Art. 1 it governs the handling of vertebrates, cephalopods and reptant decapods. There are therefore no minimum dimensions. Housing, climate and places to retreat should still match the needs of the species. The cantonal veterinary office can say whether cantonal rules apply, for example to venomous animals.
What the enclosure must provide
Escape-proof closure, humidity and temperature suited to the species, a hide and climbing structure.
Paperwork
Keep a receipt bearing the scientific name. Never release invertebrates into the wild: Even seemingly harmless species can establish themselves.
These details are a guide, not legal advice. Binding information comes from the cantonal veterinary office; the text of the ordinance is what counts. More on the legal position
